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RSC Networks

A chance to find out about the activities hosted by the different RSC Networks. From the 35 Local Sections and 75 Interest Groups to RSC Reps and International Sections, this blog should give you a taster of the 500 events organised each year by the various RSC Networks for both RSC members and the public. If you've recently held an RSC event and would like to contribute to the blog, email: networks@rsc.org.

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Archive for July, 2013
Southampton University ChemSoc hosts Series of Talks for Students by Dr Dave Alker
 Southampton University ChemSoc invited David Alker to deliver a series of careers-related talks for undergraduate and postgraduate students on the 9th and 10th of May, 2012. The undergraduate talks covered the topics of careers and workplace awareness. David stayed back after the talks to discuss further questions from the attendees over refreshments.
 
The talks were well received and some of the attendees made the following comments about the event:
 

I attended (and helped organise) both the talks aimed at Undergraduate students. I really enjoyed the contents of both the talks and really appreciated how they were quite distinct separate events, yet were both highly informative. The Careers Talk gave us not just a glimpse of the choices available, but actually made a lot of the attendees think about how Chemistry is so important in so many different ways in people’s lives. The Workplace Awareness talk was more about what is expected of an Undergraduate/ recent graduate at a workplace, be it your first job or an internship or a placement in a research lab or industry. However, whatever the name suggests, Dave did not just preach us on ‘how to behave’, it was quite an interactive and humorous session, with him taking in input from us as well. I would be glad to participate in more of such events, given how it engages students and at times, keeps some disenchanted students from disengaging from their course and helps them change their views about how Chemistry affects lives. -Ishani Bhattacharya, Undergraduate student (2nd Year, 2011/12)

 

I attended the Workplace Awareness Talk for Undergraduates and it was a very good decision to do so, as I think it was quite informative and helpful when it comes to preparing for my Fourth Year placement.
-Hamid Khan, Undergraduate student (2nd Year, 2011/12)

 

The event was certainly aimed at PhD students rather than Masters or Undergraduate students. There was quite a lot of background information about the current economic climate (CEC) and what that means for employment opportunities. David also went through what someone with a PhD has to offer and, therefore, how a PhD should make someone employable, despite the CEC. There was a list of potential careers (very broad) and he mentioned facts like only 10 % of PhDs stay in academia. The talk was more about giving us an overview than specific careers ideas: he got us to think about the opportunities a PhD gives, rather than suggesting that it means doing chemistry forever. In my experience of a PhD (and I think some of my group members would agree), it can seem like by doing a PhD you have committed yourself to a lifetime of either academia or industry directly related to the PhD, when, in fact, a PhD should be opening rather than closing doors. This is what the talk was about.
-Mary Cholerton, PhD student   

Posted by Emily James on Jul 19, 2013 4:30 PM BST
27th Annual Young Scientists Symposium, School of Chemistry, Bangor University
The 27th Young Scientist Symposium was held at Bangor University, September 18th 2012. With 47 delegates in attendance the symposium is a great opportunity for scientists from Bangor and Glyndwr Universities, at the early stages of their career, to present their work, as well as network and share information and knowledge. A great varied programme was presented, both in the oral and poster presentations.

A well structured and clearly presented winning oral presentation was given by Mark Pitts. Mark is a third year student at Bangor University, conducting research under the supervision of Prof M Baird. His talk was entitled “Towards the Detection of TB”.  In second place was a presentation on the “Synthesis and Testing of New Dyes for Dye Sensitised Solar Cells” by Moneer Mohsen. James Maskery was awarded third place in the competition for his presentation on “When is a Hydrogen Bond a Hydrogen Bond?”.
 
Oral Presentation Prize Giving (L to R): Moneer Mohsen, James Maskery and Mark Pitts and Dr Malcolm Jones (RSC North Wales Section)
 
 
Two industrial speakers gave plenary talks during the day. Dr James Timmis, a Bangor graduate, currently works for Liquid Research Ltd and spoke about the properties, uses and potential of magnetic liquids. Dr Anna Codina from Bruker  UK Ltd explained how reactions could be monitered using different techniques during process development, and how this could contribute to understanding the processes involved.
A high number of poster presentations made judging particularly difficult this year. Prizes for the best poster presentations with analytical chemistry as their main theme or underpinning the research presented (sponsored by the RSC North West Analytical Division) were awarded to:

  • Lingyu Han, Glyndwr University – “Extensional Rheometry and Dynamic Light Scattering of Telechelic Associating Polymer Solutions” (1st);
  • Mark Long, Bangor University - “Towards a Synthesis of a Neuroactive Polybioside from the Social Wasp Polybia paulista”(2nd);
  • and Ben Butler Bangor University – “Enhancing the Quantitative Capacity of MALDI-TOF MS” (3rd).
Poster Presentation Prize Giving (L to R): Mark Long, Dr Vera Thoss (RSC North West Analytical Division) Lingyu Han and Dr Lorrie Murphy (accepting on behalf of Ben Butler)
 
Before the winners were announced, the North Wales Local Section held a special award ceremony to show their appreciation to two extremely valued long serving members of the committee. Dr Andrew Nichol, and Dr Peter Lloyd were presented with a certificate and commemorative plate in recognition of their hard work over the years. Their committment to the section has been second to none, and the committee express their thanks to both. May we wish them the best in their retirement from the committee!
 
RSC North Wales Section Special Presentation (L to R): Dr Erica Roberts (Chair RSC North Wales Section), Dr Malcolm Jones (RSC North Wales Section), Dr Andrew Nichol (Left Panel) and Dr Peter Lloyd (Right Panel)
 
Our thanks to the sponsors; the North West Analytical Division, Liquids Research Ltd, and also the North West Trust whom kindly sponsor this event annually. Thanks also go to the judging panel, Dr Malcolm Jones, Dr Peter Lloyd, Dr Andrew Nichol, and Dr Vera Thoss. Last but not least, thanks go to Dr Lorrie Murphy for her help with organising the event this year, Dr Jesus Cirre (Glyndwr University) as well as all the staff behind the scenes at Bangor University.

- Dr Erica Roberts (Chair RSC North Wales Section)

Posted by Emily James on Jul 16, 2013 3:47 PM BST
Events from Bangor University ChemSoc during 2012/13
Fresher's Cocktail Party (Sept 2012)
Bangor’s third annual fresher's cocktail party was held to end a busy Welcome Week for new undergraduate students.  The fresher’s and peer guides only event was held to give an insight into Bangor’s usual ChemSoc cocktail parties, as well as it being a final party where the students could mingle together with their course mates before beginning their courses.  The event was a success, with the majority of the new undergraduates signing up for membership to ChemSoc.

Charity Cocktail Party in aid of SOS Africa (Oct 2012)
Bangor’s ChemSoc held a charity cocktail party, on behalf of Dr Mathew Davies, to help raise money for SOS Africa. Dr Mathew Davies had been fundraising all year on behalf of SOS Africa through various events, from running marathons to showing and allowing photos with his Olympic torch.  SOS Africa is a small, non-profit, African children's charity, which funds the care and education of underprivileged African children. Bangor felt it was a worthy cause and were very pleased to say that they helped to raise over £230 towards the fundraising goal. 

Dr Mathew Davies (in blue), shown to the left, with Dr Peter Holliman's research group at the SOS Africa cocktail party.

Christmas Dinner (Dec 2012)
This year's formal Christmas Dinner was held at Meifod Country House Hotel, Bontnewydd.  There was plenty of drinking, eating and being merry to be had and some even braved a go (or two!) on the rodeo bull!  A fun-filled evening, it was the perfect way to end the semester.

Left - One of Bangor's first year undergraduates having a go on the rodeo bull!


Trip to Fun Centre, Caernarfon (Feb 2013)
A trip to the Fun Centre, Caernarfon was held in February.  This is a children’s indoor play area, which opens in the evenings to accommodate adults.  The event was well-attended and plenty of fun was had.

RSC-sponsored Trip to Wylfa Nuclear Power Station (March 2013)
The RSC very kindly sponsored Bangor ChemSoc to attend an industrial trip to Wylfa Nuclear Power Station.  A group of approx. 50 students attended the afternoon event, with a lecture given by Mr Andrew Taylor, Head of Project Delivery Organisation at the Magnox' Wylfa Site. The lecture was interesting, informative, and sparked debate amongst the students present.  Mr Taylor's lecture gave participants an insight into the nuclear industry-reactor types, waste management, future of nuclear industry, and the roles at the site. Unfortunately, due to time constraints and the large number of attendees, Bangor were unable to have a tour of the site or the visitor's centre and so hope to rearrange a return trip in the near future to spend more time to look around.

End of year cocktail party (April 2013)
The end of year cocktail party was held in April. It was well attended, especially by final year undergraduates who had a presentation of "fun degree awards" as voted by their peers, with awards ranging from "most likely to win a Nobel Prize" to "best dressed male/female".

Change of committee
The Bangor University ChemSoc has also changed its committee over this academic year-with an expansion in committee members, including undergraduate students from each year group.  Bangor hopes to be able to plan and deliver more events during the next academic year, with plans already in place for Welcome Week 2013.
 
Posted by Emily James on Jul 16, 2013 1:58 PM BST
Deccan Section Events (March to June 2013)
Intercollegiate quiz competition - March 2013
The Intercollegiate quiz competition was held on the 2nd March by the RSC Deccan Section, in association with the School of Pharmacy. The competition was well received and over 30 teams participated in a screening test, from which 6 teams were selected to go into the final rounds. The quiz competition had questions for the audience as well as 4 different rounds for the contestants: direct question, hit the target, rapid fire and buzzer.

The honourable judges for the competition were Prof. V.Peesapati (Hon. Secretary RSC- DS) and Dr V.V.L.N Prasad (Head Dept of Pharmaceutical Analysis). The competition was won by the team from the Bharat Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hyderabad. The first runners up were from the T.K.R College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad and the second runners up were from Palamuru University, Mahabubnagar. The winning and runner up teams were awarded with a cash prize, certificate and a book from the RSC-DS.

Padmabhushan Prof.T.R.Seshadri FRS FNA Memorial Lecture – March 2013
The memorial lecture was held at the IICT Lecture Hall on the 9th March and given by Prof.Ashwini Nangia (School of Chemistry, Hyderabad University) on “Cocrystals and Salts of Poorly Soluble APIs - Solubility and Stability Advantage”.

Prof. Ashwini Nangia spoke about the new method developments in drug research by preparing co-crystals and their salts in order to improve their bio-availability to increase the efficacy of the drug. Around 100 students and staff members attended the lecture and the RSC Deccan Section honoured the speaker with a gift.

Quiz/Puzzle on Chemistry in Daily Life for School Children – April 2013
The RSC-DS designed quiz and puzzle competition for school children and held it at the Nagarjuna Nagar community Hall, Tarnaka, Hyderabad on the 11th April. Prof. Peesapati, Deccan Section Secretary executed the event with the help of Dr.(Mrs) Ch. Krishna Kumari and Mr. P. Venkatesh (Executive members of RSC-DS).

The aim of the event was to create awareness among school children (10 to 16 years old) of the role chemistry plays in our daily life: in the food, in the air, in the kitchen, in the bathroom and every object we can see or touch. Around 30 students participated and six candidates were selected for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in two categories. Students appreciated and enjoyed the event.

Invited talk by Dr Daniel G. Miller – April 2013
The RSC-DS arranged a talk by Dr Daniel G. Miller (USA) on the “Integrated Scientific and Regulatory Requirements for Cell-based Therapy products” at the bNational Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) on the 12th April.

Dr Miller spoke about development of a novel bio-artificial liver system concept. The technology developed by them is very important in the medicinal field and useful for an extracorporeal blood filtration system that removes harmful substances in blood including LDL cholesterol (‘bad’ cholesterol) and immune complexes that are responsible for the inflammatory reactions of diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus). The team under Dr. Miller’s direction completed preclinical and clinical studies of this technology and gained FDA approval.

Students of M.S.Pharm and staff members of NIPER-Hyderabad attended the lecture. He clarified many doubts raised by students. RSC-DS honoured the speaker.

Food and Nutrition – May 2013
The RSC-DS and Nagarjuna Nagar Welfare Association-Tarnaka, Hyderabad jointly conducted a lecture and cooking competition on food and nutrition, to create awareness on the importance of nutrition and healthy food habits. Around 75 people attended the event, 25 of these participating in the competition.

The registered participants prepared various vegetarian food items and displayed for the competition. The array of naturally brightly coloured and tasty food varied from different types of currys, salads, pulow, chocolates and most of the items were prepared from fresh vegetables, spices, grains, lentils, yogurt, cocoa butter and nuts.

Dr. (Mrs) P Ashlesha (Head of the Dept. of Food & Nutrition, Koti Womens College) and Dr. (Mrs) Usha Sastry (Retd. Scientist, CCMB) judged the entries according to their nutritional value, ingredients and presentation. The winners were:
  • First Prize: Mrs. Leela,   (Dosa)
  • Second Prize: Mrs. Anjali Sahani, (Fruit salad)
  • Third Prize:  Mrs. Neesha  (Panneer masala)
  • Consolation Prize: Mr. Umakanth (Palak mixed vegetable salad)
The competition was followed by a 30 minute lecture by Prof. P. Ashlesha on the importance of macro and micro nutrients. She also spoke about the importance of breast feeding babies for a minimum of six months (to protect and strengthen its immune system). Thanks go to Dr.Padmaja, Mrs. Peesapati and Mr. P Venkatesh, who helped Prof. V. Peesapati, (Secretary RSC-DS) in organizing this event.

Prof. V. Peesapati Appears in Local Paper, Promoting Deccan Section Activities - June 2013


Professor V. Peesapati was interviewed by “The Hans India”, in which he explained the work of the RSC Deccan Section and promoted the benefits of a chemistry degree. You can read the article by clicking on the photo.

Posted by Emily James on Jul 15, 2013 2:51 PM BST